Coin operated key deposit box



Aug. 22, 1961 A. N. CHANDLER 2,997,151

COIN OPERATED KEY DEPOSIT BOX Filed Sept. 29, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. AMOS N. CHANDLER Aug. 22, 1961 A. N. CHANDLER COIN OPERATED KEY DEPOSIT BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 29, 1958 FIG. 4.

INVENTOR. AMOS N. CHANDLER Patented Aug. 22, 1961 2,997,151 COIN OPERATED KEY DEPOSIT BOX Amos N. Chandler, Maywood, Calif., assignor of onetenth to Gadget-Of-The-Month Club, Inc., North Hollywood, 'Califi, a corporation of California Filed Se t. 29, 1958, Ser. No. 764,008 Claims. c1.194-s1 to cover the cost of making a substitute key.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a coin operated key deposit box having positive action,

locking and unlocking characteristics of greatly simplified construction.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a coin operated key deposit box which is suitable for in- :stallation into pro-existing motels or as a convenient built-in device.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a self-service, coin operated key deposit box which is relatively inexpensive, simple, easy to operate, and of virtually foolproof construction.

To facilitate understanding, reference will be made to the hereinbelow-described figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view showing the present invention installed on a pre-existing door and indicating true alignment;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the present invention built into a door;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the lines III-III in FIG. 1;

. FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view with the back cover removed and showing the key release and locking brace in its normal key retaining position;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view with the back cover removed and showing the key release and locking brace actuated into a key release position, with the coin shown in phantom;

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational View with the back cover removed and showing the coin holder in a coin return position;

FIG. 7 is a view taken along the lines VII-VII in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing enother version of the present invention, but without the coin holder spring means; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing a modified version of the coin holder return spring means.

The coin operated key deposit box, indicated generally at 9 in FIGS. 1, 3-6, is attached on the inside of a pre-existing door 10 and normally has a key 11 inserted therein. The key 11 may fit the pre-existing lock 12; in that event only one key .11 would be required. If not, then the key 11 would normally be locked within the key deposit box 9, but the key 11 would have attached thereto a second key 46, by means of an inseparable key ring 45, which would fit the pre-existing lock 12, as shown in FIG. 2.

The key deposit box 9 comprises a preferably integral front housing 13 which is provided with a top coin slot 14, a bottom coin passageway 15, and includes a conventional lock 16. The lock 16 is rotatively offset, as shown in FIG. 1, with true alignment being indicated by the dotted line A--A. The plug 17 and key 11 are in 2 a substantially vertical position normally in order that the key 11 will be secured. To extract the key 11 it is necessary to turn the plug 17 clockwise slightly, which is not possible until a coin 37 has been inserted. Thus,

the guest is required to put up a small deposit in orderto obtain the keys to his room. If the guest absconds with the keys, he forfeits his deposit.

The lock 16 is secured to the front housing 13 by means of the hex nut 38. The key deposit box 9 includes a back cover plate 18. The cover plate 18 is preferably integral and is provided with a coin return slide 19, as best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. The cover plate 18 is fastened to the housing 13 by means of the screws 21 which also fasten the key deposit box 9 to the door 10, as best shown in FIG. 3. The faces of the wood screws 21 are preferably sealed with solder or the like in order to prevent removal of the key deposit box 9. In the present example, the housing 13 and the cover plate 18 are of plastic construction to facilitate disclosure of the invention, but the invention is not so limited.

The key deposit box 9 may be built into a door 10, as shown in FIG. 2. Normally, the key deposit box 9 is attached on the inside of the door 10. The coin slot 14A, in this particular built-in version, would have its opening on the front housing 13 and the coin guideways 33 and 39, adhesively attached to the cover plate 18 and front housing 13 respectively, would direct the coin 37 into the coin holder 22. The key deposit box 9 would be inserted into an open cut-out portion in the door It) and with the screws 43 securing the back cover plate 18 with respect to the front housing 13. A side cover plate 40 and fasteners 44 close oil the key deposit box 9.

A substantially U-shaped coin holder 22 is fixedly attached to the end portion of the plug 17 by means of the fasteners 23, as shown in FIGS. 4-6. The coin holder 22 is mounted directly under the coin slot 14 and includes a pair of spaced upright end members 24. Said end members 24 are provided with inwardly facing ver tical coin retaining slots 25, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 7. The coin holder 22 has a normal upright coin receiving position, as shown in FIG. 4, and a downwardly inclined coin return position, as best shown in FIG. 6. Coin holder return spring means 26, coiled around the plug 17 and fixedly attached at 27, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 7, automatically retract the holder 22 into the coin receiving position, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 7. The horizontal stop 29 limits the counterclockwise movement of the coin holder 22. The stop 29 is screwed into the cover plate 18.

A normally horizontal key release and locking brace 30 is pivotally mounted at 31 to the coin holder 22. A spring 32, one end being positioned within an aperture in the brace 30 and with the opposite end being attached to the hook 34, biases the locking pawl 30 in the normal key retaining position, as illustrated in FIG. 4. A brace stop 35, adhcsively (or otherwise) attached to or carried by the interior of the housing 13, supports the locking pawl 30 in the key retaining position. As long as the locking brace 39 is in the horizontal key retaining position the coin holder 22 is immobilized from clockwise rotation, thereby preventing the plug 17 from being turned into true alignment A-A whereby the key 11 may be removed.

The locking brace 30 is provided with a detent 36, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, which is directly under the coin slot 14. Said detent 36 receives the weight of the coin 37 whereupon the spring 32 becomes distended, causing the locking brace 30 to be pivoted into the key release position, as shown in FIG. 5, whereby the plug 17 may be turned clockwise slightly into true alignment A-A and enabling the guest to withdraw the key 11.

fOrm of a forked spring 26".

The coin 37 remains in the coin holder 22 until the guest decides to leave the motel, whereupon the guest must insert the key 11 into the plug 17 and turn it counterclockwise in order to rotate the holder 22 into a downwardly inclined position, as illustrated in FIG. '6, thereby releasing the coin 37 which falls through the passageway 15 and into the return slide 19 where it can be removed. The coin holder return spring 26 automatically retracts the coin holder 22 into the coin receiving position, i.e., the normal key retaining position.

FIG. 8 shows a slight modification of the present invention and corresponding parts will be numbered identically, primed however. The coin operated key deposit box 9' is completely similar in operation and construction with the first version of the present invention, shown in FIGS. 1-7, except that in the modified version the coin holder return spring 26 is eliminated. Printed instructions on the deposit box 9' would inform the guest of this fact and he would be supplied with proper instructions thereon.

FIG. 9 illustrates another slight modification of the present invention and corresponding parts will be numbered identically, double primed however. In this particular version, the coin holder return spring takes the One end of the spring 26 is attached at 47 to the coin holder 22" and the other end is attached at 48 to the interior of the front housing 13".

It should be noted that the words clockwise and feounterclockwise as used herein are applied with the orientation of the guest in mind and can be best understood by referring to FIG. 1.

Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention will occur to those skilled in the art after a eareful study hereof. All such, properly within the basic spirit, scope and/or teachings of the present invention are intended to be included and comprehended herein as fully as if specifically described, illustrated, and claimed.

The exact compositions, configurations, constructions, relative positionings, and cooperative relationships of the various component parts of the present invention are not critical, and can be modified substantially within the spirit of the present invention.

The embodiments of the present invention specifically described and illustrated herein are exemplary only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is to be interpreted in the light of the prior art and the appended claims only, with due consideration for the doctrine of equivalents.

I claim: I

l. A coin operated key deposit box, comprising: housing means having a first portion provided with and mounting a rotatively oifset lock adapted to receive a key, said lock being provided with and rotatively carrying a lock "plug positioned within the housing means; a coin holder supported by said plug within said housing means in a coin-receiving and key-retaining position for key-releasing rotative movement in one direction from said coinreceiving and key-retaining position into a key-releasing position, and for coin-returning rotative movement in another direction from said coin-receiving and key-retaining position into a coin-return position; said housing means being provided with a coin ingress opening positioned to direct a coin into the coin holder when in the coin-receiving and key-retaining position; said housing means being provided with a coin-egress opening positioned to receive a coin discharged by the coin holder when in the coin-return position; rotation-preventing means for preventing key-releasing rotative movement of the coin holder and plug except when the coin holder carries a coin therein, comprising a key release and locking brace pivotally carried by the coin holder for receipt of the weight of a coin in the coin holder and for pivotal movement as a result thereof from a key-retaining position, cooperable to prevent key-releasing rotative movement of said coin holder and plug, into a key-release position which will allow key-releasing rotative movement of the coin holder and plug into said key-releasing position, said rotation-preventing means also including biasing means for normally maintaining said brace in said key-retaining position, subject to the overriding action of the weight of a coin in the coin holder received upon said brace, said rotation-preventing means also including stop means positioned for rotation-stopping abutment with said brace when in the key-retaining position.

2. A coin operated key deposit box, comprising: housing means having a first portion provided with and mounting a rotatively ofiset lock adapted to receive a key, said lock being provided with and rotatively carrying a lock plug positioned within the housing means; a coin holder supported by said plug within said housing means in an upwardly directed coin-receiving and key-retaining position for very slight clockwise key-releasing rotation from said coin-receiving and key-retaining position into a keyreleasing position and for limited counter-clockwise coinreturning rotation from said coin-receiving and key-retaining position into a downwardly directed coin-return position; said housing means being provided with a coin ingress opening adjacent the top thereof positioned to direct a coin downwardly into the upwardly directed coin holder when in the coin-receiving and key-retaining position; said housing means being provided with a coinegress opening positioned to receive a coin discharged by the coin holder when in the downwardly directed coinreturn position; rotation-preventing means for preventing key-releasing clockwise rotation of the coin holder and plug except when the coin holder carries a coin therein, comprising a key release and locking brace pivotally carried by the coin holder for receipt of the weight of a coin in the coin holder and for pivotal movement as a result thereof from a key-retaining position, cooperable to prevent key-releasing clockwise rotation of said coin holder and plug, into a key-release position which will allow keyreleasing clockwise rotation of the coin holder and plug into said key-releasing position, said rotation-preventing means also including biasing means for normally maintaining said brace in said key-retaining position, subject to the overriding action of the weight of a coin in the coin holder received upon said brace, said rotation-preventing means also including stop means positioned for rotation-stopping abutment with said brace when in the key-retaining position.

3. A device of the character defined in claim 2, wherein said housing means includes a front housing portion and a back housing portion attached together and defining within the housing means below the coin holder a coin-return slide communicating with the coin-egress means for facilitating the return of a coin, said coin-ingress means comprising a portion of the housing defining a top coin slot in direct downward vertical communication with the upwardly open coin holder when in the coin-receiving and key-retaining position; said biasing means comprising spring means having one end attached to the coin holder and having the other end thereof attached to said brace.

4. A device of the character defined in claim 2, wherein said coin holder comprises a substantially U-shaped upwardly open means including a pair of spaced upright end members provided with inwardly facing coin retaining slots; the pivotal mounting of the brace with respect to the coin holder comprising pivotal connection means pivotally connecting the brace to one of said spaced upright end members of the U-shaped coin holder; said hiasing means comprising spring means having one end attached to the coin holder and having the other end thereof attached to said brace; said plug of said lock being rotatably mounted in the lock for very slight clockwise rotation in the key-releasing direction upon coin-actuated pivotal movement of said brace into said key-release position, whereby said plug may be rotated into true alignsteam ment with respect to the ofiset lock in order that the key may be withdrawn.

5. A device of the character defined in claim 2, wherein said coin holder comprises a substantially U-shaped upwardly open means including a pair of spaced upright end members provided with inwardly facing coin retaining slots; the pivotal mounting of the brace with respect to the coin holder comprising pivotal connection means pivotally connecting the brace to one of said spaced upright end members of the U-shaped coin holder; said biasing means comprising spring means having one end attached to the coin holder and having the other end thereof attached to said brace; coin holder return spring means, having one end attached to said coin holder and having the other end attached to the interior of said housing means for biasing said coin holder into said coimreceiving and key retaining position; said plug of said lock being rotatably mounted in the lock for very slight clockwise rotation in the key-releasing direction upon coin-actuated pivotal movement of said brace into said key-release position, whereby said plug may be rotated into true alignment with respect to the offset lock in order that the key may be withdrawn; and including horizontal stop means attached to said housing means and projecting into the interior thereof for limiting counter-clockwise movement oat said coin holder when actuated into said coin-return position. 7

6. A device of the character defined in claim 2, wherein said coin holder comprises a substantially U-shaped upwardly open means including a pair of spaced upright end members provided with inwardly facing coin retaining slots; the pivotal mounting of the brace with respect to the coin holder comprising pivotal connection means pivotally connecting the brace to one of said spaced upright end members of the U-shaped coin holder; said biasing means comprising spring means having one end attached to the coin holder and having the other end thereof attached to said brace; said plug of said lock being rotatably mounted in the lock for very slight clockwise rotation in the key-releasing direction upon coin-actuated pivotal movement of said brace into said key-release position, whereby said plug may be rotated into true alignment with respect to the ofiset lock in order that the key may be withdrawn; and including horizontal stop means attached to said housing means and projecting into the interior thereof for limiting counter-clockwise movement of said coin holder when actuated into said coin-return position.

7. A device of the character defined in claim 2, wherein said coin holder comprises a substantially U-shaped upwardly open means including spaced first and second upright end members provided with inwardly facing coin retaining slots; the pivotal mounting of the brace with respect to the coin holder comprising pivotal connection means pivotally connecting the brace to said first one of said spaced upright end members of the U-shaped coin holder; said biasing means comprising spring means having one end attached to said second upright end member of the coin holder and having the other end thereof attached to said brace; said plug of said lock being rotatably mounted in the lock for very slight clockwise rotation in the key-releasing direction upon coin-actuated pivotal movement of said brace into said key-release position, whereby said plug may be rotated into true alignment with respect to the offset lock in order that the key may be withdrawn; and including horizontal stop means attached to said housing means and projecting into the interior thereof for limiting counter-clockwise movement of said coin holder when actuated into said coin-return position.

8. A device of the character defined in claim 2, wherein said coin holder comprises a substantially U-shaped upwardly open means including spaced first and second upright end members provided with inwardly facing coin retaining slots; the pivotal mounting of the brace with respect to the coin holder comprising pivotal connection means pivotally connecting the brace to said first one of said spaced upright end members of the U-shaped coin holder; said biasing means comprising spring means having one end attached to said second upright end member of the coin holder and having the other end thereof attached to said brace; coin holder return spring means, having one end attached to said coin holder and having the other end attached to the interior of said housing means for biasing said coin holder into said coin-receiving and key-retaining position; said plug of said lock being rotatably mounted in the lock for very slight clockwise rotation in the key-releasing direction upon coin-actuated pivotal movement of said brace into said key-release position, whereby said plug may be rotated into true alignment with respect to the oifset lock in order that the key may be withdrawn; and including horizontal stop means attached to said housing means and projecting into the interior thereof for limiting counter-clockwise movement of said coin holder when actuated into said coin-return position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,034,604 Farnsworth Aug. 6, 1912 1,505,361 McDaniel Aug. 19, 1924 1,643,458 Johnson Sept. 27, 1927 

